EuroMed Environment Ministers define future actions to face environmental challenges

The future strategic directions to reduce pollution and increase resource efficiency in the Euro-Med region were set out by the Ministers in charge of environment and climate change from the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). The first UfM Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Climate Change, held in Athens on 13 May 2014, discussed environmental and climate-related challenges facing the region.

The Ministers acknowledged the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on the Mediterranean region and shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns for a green and low emission economy. They highlighted the cross-sectorial nature of environment and climate change challenges and the importance of fostering growth and job creation, while ensuring better quality of life and a sustainable future.

“Long term sustainable economic growth also undoubtedly lies in the capacity of the region ‘to be one’ on environmental issues. We must build successes in this field, continuing identifying concrete steps and measures, first and foremost with Governments, but also the private sector and all stakeholders in order to step up our regional cooperation efforts and get closer to tangible results,” said UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi, adding: “Regional cooperation is a condition to offer a sustainable and consistent answer to the many challenges we have to face. When it comes to environment and climate change, regional cooperation is a prerequisite for any reasonable long-term endeavor seeking efficient and sustainable solutions on the ground. Hence the need to offer a comprehensive and coordinated regional response, by fully taking into account the objectives and interests of all stakeholders.”

As tangible outcomes of the meeting, the Ministers agreed to launch the second phase of the Horizon 2020 Initiative for the depollution of the Mediterranean Sea, with the full involvement of the UfM Secretariat. They welcomed the adoption of the Ten Year Framework Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patters (SCP) by the Heads of State in Rio+20, and strongly supported the collaborative efforts of the European Union and the UfM Secretariat on the implementation of the SWITCH-MED and the Med ReSCP projects, respectively.

As regards climate change, the Ministers agreed on the creation of the “UfM Climate Change Expert Group” to advance discussion on climate change priority actions and accelerate the identification and development of concrete projects and initiatives. The group will meet once a year, with the first meeting expected to take place in October 2014.

The Ministers also invited high level experts and officials to meet at least on a biannual basis and in conjunction with other regional meetings collaborating on environment or climate issues. The “UfM Working Group on Environment and Climate Change” will follow up on the adopted Ministerial Declaration and will assess the progress made.

“The UfM stands today as an operational platform allowing to foster coordination efforts, by drawing on the synergies and complementarities with and between governments, institutions, stakeholders and cooperation schemes in the region and aiming at identifying concrete regional projects and initiatives,” underlined the Secretary General.

The Ministerial Meeting was co-chaired by Mr Al Shakhshir, the Jordanian Minister of Environment, and Mr Janez Potočnik, the EU Commissioner for Environment.

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Read more: 

• Press release 
• UfM Secretary General speech 
• UfM – Environment & Water 
• Horizon 2020 - website 

• Climate Change as a Global Challenge – The IPCC 5th Assessment Report (AR5)
• DG Clima – Challenges and opportunities of low carbon development and building resilience
• Eco Cities 2014
• Environment and Climate Investments. Implementation and Innovative Approaches – The European Investment Bank Experience
• Horizon 2020 Mediterranean report
• The Mediterranean Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (MSESD)